Philippines police chief: 300 dirty cops will be brought to justice

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa earlier said nearly all illegal drugs in the Philippines, whether finished products or raw materials, came from China.

London-based Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday said that having over 1,700 drug-related killings by the police and unknown assailants in President Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs indicated lawlessness instead of crime control.

The Philippines has recorded about 1,900 drug-related killings since President Rodrigo Duterte took office seven weeks ago and launched a war on narcotics, far higher than previously believed, according to police figures. "It does not mean that we'll weaken our friendship with the United States", Yasay said during a break of a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee.

Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said late Tuesday that police in China and in the Philippines have exchanged visits recently for joint training and intelligence sharing in the growing anti-drug cooperation between the countries.

Senator Frank Drilon told Reuters that the number of deaths was "alarming" and had "a chilling effect".

Duterte's freaky, profanity-laden, speech attacking the United Nations and the USA was quickly downplayed by Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., who told reporters Monday that Duterte was simply disappointed and over the criticism, and that he was hungry and exhausted when he threatened to leave the United Nations, the AP reported.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte viewing the coffin of slain Police Senior Inspector Mark Gil Garcia who was killed in an anti-drug operation

The US State Department also this week said it was "deeply concerned" about reports of extrajudicial killings.

"The fight against drugs will continue to the last day of my term", Duterte said at Malacañang Palace.

Duterte has insisted most of the 756 people confirmed killed by police were drug suspects who resisted arrest, while the others died due to gang members waging warfare against each other.

Duterte has repeatedly said the killings of drug suspects are lawful if police are acting in self-defense.

He also said about 300 of his officers were suspected to be involved in the drugs trade, warning these personnel will be sacked and charged in court if found guilty. She declined to comment on the issue. "What is particularly worrisome is that the campaign against drugs seems to be an excuse for some law enforcers and other elements like vigilantes to commit murder with impunity", De Lima said.

The President had issued the warning amid reports that the United Nations was looking into gross human rights violations in the ongoing war on drugs.